February 14, 2014

“Witness 1: John the Baptist”

Blessings folk!

Jesus continues speaking to the Religious rulers.

Remember, they are furious.
They want Jesus dead.
Jesus is laying forth the case of their rejection of Him.

Jesus now shows the things that witness against them.

John 5:33-35
33 You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.
34 But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.
35 He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

The first witness that Jesus mentions is John the Baptist.

Jesus confirms that John testified to the truth.

Jesus then states that His testimony is not from man.
He had already told them that He spoke what God spoke.

(Can you imagine what they were thinking?)

Verse 34 gives us a heartbreaking insight…” but I say these things so that you may be saved.”

Jesus desired the salvation of the Religious rulers.
He was telling them these things that they might believe.

Jesus points out that they were willing to rejoice in the light of John - for awhile.
John was a lamp burning, shining.
They rejoiced in his message of repentance...for awhile.

But no longer.
Now they wanted the message of the Lord killed.

Such is the way of deception.
It blinds.
It perverts.
It leads to darkness.

Seek the Light.